Page 23 - Ferrari in America

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insurance and International competition license problems prevented their entry because of
their ages, now 16 and 18. Don Pedro then asked Chinetti if he could make arrangements for
Le Mans. The elder Rodríguez wanted them to run together, as did Ricardo and Pedro, but
Chinetti thought this was a bad idea, since neither had run in Europe or on such a long course.
This marked the beginning of an ongoing struggle. Chinetti thought the boys were
being brought along too quickly, but all three Rodríguezes disagreed. Chinetti wanted to
rent Don Pedro cars for each of the brothers and then find European co-drivers for them.
Because of his special relationship with the Le Mans organizers, Chinetti felt he could
24 David Bull Publishing
get the boys’ entries accepted despite their ages. After more negotiation, Chinetti agreed
to the Rodríguez family demands to put them in the same car, feeling that arrangements
could be changed depending on how the boys did during the Le Mans practice days. For
some reason, there was no discussion about what model Ferrari the boys would drive. The
family thought it would be a new 250 TR, but Chinetti was planning on putting them in a
less powerful, 2.0-liter 500 TR (0600MD/TR). This car had been rebuilt with a pontoon
nose and cutaway front fenders, and looked like the 250 TR. It was capable of winning the
2.0-liter class, but not overall.
The family did not find out about Chinetti’s plan until they arrived at Le Mans. Chinetti
patiently explained that the boys should learn to walk before they could run. He said they
should take their first steps in a slower car and work their way up to faster ones, so the
learning curve would be progressive rather than a sharp upward line. Although Ricardo
was especially unhappy, Don Pedro accepted Chinetti’s advice.
Upon arrival at the track on Wednesday, the team found out that the organizers would
not accept Ricardo’s papers because of his age. Don Pedro had brought his sons’ national
licenses and the FIA letters accepting their participation in International events, but the
©2024 David Bull Publishin
imperious Frenchmen would not change their minds. Chinetti now needed a co-driver for
Pedro, and chose Frenchman José Behra, the younger brother of Jean Behra, an established
grand prix driver and former motorcycle champion.
When practice began, Pedro was only a second behind José’s best. However, José explained
that 1 second a lap would become two laps over the 24 hours. Behra began coaching Pedro
and sent him out again. After 10 laps, Pedro matched Behra’s time. Behra told Chinetti, “Pedro
could be a champion. Pedro has a lot of cold blood for such a young man.”
In the race both drivers drove quite well in wet conditions. By 10:00 p.m. they were in
14th position. Pedro was at the wheel when the car began overheating, then losing power.
Pedro’s first Le Mans attempt was over by midnight, but he had proved his ability, running
in the middle of his class from the beginning.
Chinetti had also entered two 250 Testa Rossas—one for Edwin Martin / Fernand
Tavano (0730TR), and one for California protégés Dan Gurney and Bruce Kessler (0666TR),
but both cars retired. Chinetti did have the satisfaction of seeing Phil Hill win the race in
a Ferrari team car, affirming his judgment in helping Phil in his career and bringing him
to Enzo Ferrari’s attention.
©2024 David Bull PubChinetti’s standing at the Ferrari factory remained high. The last time Ferrari won Le
Mans, in 1954, Chinetti had bought the winning car, a 375 Plus, which he sold to John
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